Bearing assembly of a crop conveying and/or crop processing element for a harvesting machine

Abstract

A bearing assembly of a crop conveying and/or crop processing element for a harvesting machine includes a rolling contact bearing, a stationary disk spaced axially away from the rolling contact bearing and an impeller disk rotating with the crop conveying and/or crop processing element. The stationary disk is positioned between the rolling contact bearing and the impeller disk such that interaction of the stationary disk with the impeller disk prevents intrusion of undesirable material.

1 . Bearing assembly of a crop processing element for a harvesting machine comprising: 
 a rolling contact bearing;    an impeller disk adapted to rotate with the crop processing element; and    a stationary disk spaced axially from the rolling contact bearing and positioned axially between the rolling contact bearing and the impeller disk such that interaction of the impeller disk with the stationary disk prevents the intrusion of undesirable material, particularly from plant juices.    
     
     
         2 . The bearing assembly according to  claim 1  wherein an axial gap is defined between the stationary disk and the impeller disk.  
     
     
         3 . The bearing assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the stationary disk includes an inner region extending parallel to the impeller disk, the axial gap being defined between the inner region of the stationary disk and the impeller disk.  
     
     
         4 . The bearing assembly according to  claim 3  wherein the stationary disk includes an outer region that is axially spaced from the impeller, the outer region of the stationary disk being spaced further from the impeller than the inner region of the stationary disk.  
     
     
         5 . The bearing assembly according to  claim 4  wherein an inner end of the outer region of the stationary disk is located radially closer to an axis of rotation of the bearing assembly than an outer edge of the impeller disk.  
     
     
         6 . The bearing assembly according to  claim 1  further including a seal positioned between the stationary disk and the impeller disk.  
     
     
         7 . The bearing assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the seal is fastened to the stationary disk and includes a pointed ridge that is in contact with the impeller disk.  
     
     
         8 . The bearing assembly according to  claim 1  further including a seal extending radially between the stationary disk and a surface rotating with the crop processing element.  
     
     
         9 . The bearing assembly according to  claim 8  wherein the surface rotating with the crop processing element is a ball race.  
     
     
         10 . The bearing assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the bearing assembly is adapted to be mounted within a harvesting machine.